By Connie Motz

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the barrier reef in Belize offers some of the world's best scuba diving. Belize's coral reef is the largest in the Caribbean (second largest in the world), following the coastline for 185 miles.

Divers rave about the 150 foot visibility and the calm 75 degree waters. With several hundred cays (islands) to choose from, divers have their choice of premier diving sites.

One of the top dive sites, The Blue Hole, is a unique, 480ft deep natural wonder spanning almost a quarter of a mile. Inside this circular limestone sinkhole, divers will experience sheer walls, stalactites formations and 200ft visibility. Amazing marine life abounds, including blacktip, tiger and hammerhead sharks. Other popular dive sites include the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley in Northern Belize.

No matter where you choose, you'll be swimming with over 500 species of fish and viewing 70 types of hard coral. And if you're not already a certified scuba diver, you can obtain PADI or NAUII certification while in Belize. A supervised resort course offers non-divers an introduction into the sport in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean.

Whether you're looking for wreck diving, night diving or want to explore the canyons and tunnels, scuba diving in Belize has it all. And in case the unexpected happens, a hyperbaric chamber is available 24 hours a day, in tiny San Pedro on Ambergris Caye.

Two-tank dives cost approximately USD 35 but the best deals to be found often, which include diving, accommodation and transfers, start at USD 495 for a 6 day/5 night stay.

International holiday makers and sun seekers can fly non-stop from major cities like Miami, Houston, Los Angles, Atlanta, Houston and Charlotte. Flights to the cays can be booked with Mayan Island Air or Tropic Air. Belize is known as Mother Nature's best kept secret, so don't miss out!

Belize Info

Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize became an independent nation in 1981. With a population of just over 300,000, Belize covers approximately 8,000 square miles.

Passports are required for travel to Belize and entry visas may be required. For more information see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Belize Travel Resources:

• Travel Belize
• Belize Tourism
• Ramon's Village, San Pedro

Photo Credits: Used with permission of TravelBelize.org

Blue Hole - Image Copyright 2008 - Tony Rath of Tony Rath Photography www.tonyrath.com.

Scuba Diving - Image Copyright 2008 - Tony Rath of Tony Rath Photography www.tonyrath.com.

Nobody's trying to fill Sir Edmund Hillary's climbing boots, but trends definitely indicate that intrepid travel is on the up. The team at Black Tomato has been pondering the future of travel: with a continued emphasis on exclusivity and the "untouched", can it be that a whole new type of leisure explorers are set to take the world (and beyond) by storm? Well, if you're out there, consider this your call to arms.

Do you dream of cutting fresh tracks through virgin powder? Are you always on the look-out for the latest extreme adventure sport? Think physical and mental boundaries are made to be crossed? Find it deeply satisfying to be the first at everything? Crave the terrifying thrill of the unknown? Then you're a perfect candidate, and it is with great pleasure that we dub you a member of this new, exciting breed: "21st century explorer".

You're a throw-back to those god-like men of bygone eras: James Cook, Ernest Shackleton, Alexander the Great. Admittedly they might have been motivated by slightly different factors, but these men shared one thing in common: a thirst for exploration and adventure so deeply ingrained as to push them farther than any human had gone before. Now, we're not asking you to pillage and plunder, nor board a ship in search of new worlds; that would just be silly not to mention illegal. These days the job of the explorer is to find new ways and means to fulfil a yearning for the unknown.

So where can you find this precious commodity? What is the route to adrenaline-fuelled bliss? Well, we've got a few ideas...

As the world becomes more accessible and globalisation increases our knowledge of even its furthest reaches, the undiscovered is becoming ever more elusive. More and more people are scaling the world's heights, exploring its deepest depths and sticking their noses in every hidden corner. But don't be discouraged (no real explorer would let such a tiny, insignificant obstacle deter him). This only means you've got to dig a little deeper and go that extra mile – something we're pretty sure you'd tend to do regardless.

And while this can be a bit annoying for those of looking for a quick boundary-breaking fix, every cloud has a silver lining. As the stakes are upped, the exclusivity factor shoots through the roof which means that you, our 21st century explorers, are set to have some seriously A-list adventures.

So if reading this has ignited a yearning for adventure then read on for a little exploration inspiration – our program for an explorer in training:

• Conquer the frozen land: It's not completely undiscovered, but Antarctica is undoubtedly untamed. This is a real, Jules Verne-style adventure and when you land on an ice runway at the "unknown international airport", you'll see what we mean. Well, we think you will... You can even glean a little inspiration from the "Scott camp" where you can see how your predecessor tackled the ice.

• Crack the earth's crust: In a manner of speaking, that is. Dive down to the bottom of a crystal clear mineral lake in the wilds of Iceland and penetrate the earth's outer covering. Swim deep between two tectonic plates and – literally – hold the world apart. If that's not an innovative adventure, we don't know what is!

• Trek the Black Cat Track: Truly one of our last frontiers, Papua New Guinea's uncharted jungles are the place to head if you're looking for a bona fide tropical adventure. Situated in the South Pacific's "Ring of Fire", this is a land of volcanoes, mysterious birds, highland cloud forests, the mighty Sepik River and thriving local tribes. Challenge yourself trekking the little known "Black Cat Track" which links several rural villages from Wau in the Southern Coastal Highlands to Salamua Beach in the Morobe Province. Less than 100 people did this trek in 2008 and it is much more intrepid that the more famous Kokodo trail. Not for the faint of heart, you'll head deep into the cloud forest crossing dramatic gorges using ropes and harnesses, and be taught to build traditional rafts out of bamboo and jungle vines which you'll then raft down the San Francisco River. Bruce Parry eat your heart out.

• Scale the heights of Everest: It might have been done by quite a few people now, but come on, it's still pretty hard core. And if you hit the summit, it'll definitely guarantee some serious bragging rights. So celebrate Sir Edmund and don your warmest clothes to reach the pinnacle of earthly exploration.

• Space... the final frontier? Still a bit of a question, to be honest, but we've got an inkling that this will prove the ultimate realm for adventure in the 21st century. Be the Christopher Columbus of outer space and discover a new galaxy. A challenge? Well, yes. But no self-respecting explorer would shirk such a momentous journey.

So only one question remains to be asked: what are you doing suiting up and typing away your precious hours in the office? There are new worlds to be discovered and boundaries to be crossed – we're counting on you to lead the way.

Black Tomato (www.blacktomato.co.uk; +44 207 426 9888) is a bespoke tour operator that specialises in putting together exceptional travel experiences.